A group of morphologically similar organisms that are capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring
Ecosystem
An interacting community of populations of organisms and the physical environment in which they live
Ecosystems
1. Life on earth is connected through the cycling of nutrients and the transformation of energy though food webs
2. Ecosystems are generally homogenous but some may vary
Levels of Biodiversity
Genetic diversity
Species diversity
Ecosystem diversity
Genetic diversity
The diversity of genes within a particular species, important for evolutionary processes
Populations with higher genetic diversity
Are more resilient and more likely to survive sudden changes in the environment than populations with low genetic diversity
Species richness
The number of species per sample
Species evenness
Proportions of species per sample, the more equal species are in proportion the greater the evenness
Biodiversity index
Number of species in the area / total number of individuals in the area
Factors affecting Biodiversity
Size
Abiotic factors
Biotic factors
Limiting factor
A factor that restricts the size of a population from reaching it's full potential
Biodiversity Hotspot
Areas that support natural ecosystems that are largely intact and where native species and communities associated with these ecosystems are well represented, with high diversity of locally endemic species, but suffer threats from outsiders
Hierarchy of classification
Scientists classify organisms into a number of groups that form a hierarchy or series of levels known as taxa or taxonomic
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Domain
Three domains: Eukaryotes called Eukarya and prokaryotes called Archaea and Bacteria
Eukaryotes
Contain DNA within a nucleus and membrane bound organelles
Prokaryotes
No nucleus or membrane bound organelles
Bacteria
Microscopic single celled organisms
Archaea
Microscopic single celled organisms known for living in extreme environments